U.S. adds trade sanctions against Russia

The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security has added 11 parties to its Entity List in response to Russia's continued action in Ukraine.
The Obama administration said Russia continues to provide Ukrainian separatists heavy weapons, equipment, and other financing, and continues to allow militants to enter Ukraine freely. In addition, Russia has returned many of its troops to border areas, and has been amassing additional equipment near the border for potential transfer into Ukraine.
The 11 parties added to the BIS Entity List are “involved, or pose a significant risk of becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States,” BIS said in a statement. They include Donetsk People’s Republic, Feodosia Enterprise, JSC Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, JSC Concern Sozvezdie, JSCC Almaz-Antey, Kalashnikov Concern, KBP Instrument Design Bureau, Luhansk People’s Republic, MIC NOP Mashinostroyenia, Research and Production Corp. “UralVagonZavod,” and State Research and Production Enterprise “Bazalt.”
Designation on the Entity List imposes a license requirement for the export, re-export or foreign transfer of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations to the designated Entities, with a presumption of denial, BIS said.